The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation is pleased to support the Northeast Indiana Local Food Network’s Capacity-Building Initiative through a three-year $170,600 grant. This initiative aims to strengthen the food system in Northeast Indiana, focusing on vulnerable families and individuals who face barriers to accessing nutritious, locally-produced food.

The grant will support a comprehensive needs assessment of the local food system to identify challenges and opportunities faced by farmers, businesses, schools, and families in producing, sourcing, and accessing healthy food. This research will be used to develop a strategic plan that addresses the needs of the region’s most vulnerable populations. This grant also includes operational support to implement the strategic plan that will be created. 

The Northeast Indiana Local Food Network is working closely with Kristi Sturtz, ALM, AICP, President of Sturtz Public Management Group, and Kate Vellucci, ALM, to facilitate the Capacity-Building Initiative, which also received funding through a USDA Regional Food Systems Partnership grant. This effort will help increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the varied aspects of Northeast Indiana’s local food system. It will also help stakeholders work together to build the system’s capacity and resilience.

Key focus areas of the initiative include:

• Expanding SNAP Double Up Indiana services to increase access for low-income families to fresh, locally grown produce.
• Supporting and expanding Farm to School programs to encourage the inclusion of more locally sourced fruits and vegetables in schools.
• Strengthening Value Chain Coordination among local farmers to meet the growing demand for fresh, locally produced food.

The St. Joe Foundation knows that nutritious food is essential for the health and well-being of all individuals and families. This capacity-building initiative also addresses the Foundation’s vision of caring for the poor and marginalized by supporting vulnerable populations in accessing high-quality, nutritious food. Additionally, this initiative fosters solidarity within the community, encouraging collaboration among farmers, businesses, schools, and families to create a more widely accessible food system. 

This grant focuses on building a resilient food system that ensures long-term access to healthy, affordable, and locally sourced food for all community members. Community members are invited to participate in the community assessment by visiting the Northeast Indiana Local Food Network website. https://www.neifood.org/news/we-want-your-input.